While downtown readies for the New York International Fringe Festival, the fifth annual Midtown International Theatre Festival kicks off in the center of Manhattan with over three dozen shows playing in rep, July 12-Aug. 1.

The works — including musicals, dramas and solo shows — will be presented by John Chatterton in association with Theatre Resources Unlimited (TRU) at the WorkShop Theatre and Where Eagles Dare venues, both located on West 36th Street. Among the shows slated include:

Cul de Sac Rock (a one-man sorta rock opera) Written and performed by Jeffrey Marshek, directed by Darren Katz - A gay Jewish kid in 1980s Cleveland finds escape from his dysfunctional family in his own fantasy.

Do You Have Anything Closer? Written by performer Lawrence Paone and director Matthew Aibel - A TKTS ticket seller's inside account of life behind the partition and the questions of clueless theatregoers.

An Evening with Carol Channing Richard Skipper stars as the title theatre legend of Hello, Dolly! fame in this live solo tribute.

Icons: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1 Written and performed by Jade Esteban Estrada, directed by Jeff Wills - A new musical that "takes the audiences on a whirlwind tour though gay history," pointing to such iconic names as Michelangelo, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein and Ellen DeGeneres.

Julianne Caesar David Starkey pens this tale of an actress who loses out on the role of Brutus in an all female production of Julius Caesar to her rival, but opening night will bring backstabbing of its own.

That Men Do Written and directed by Adam Perkins - Ben Curtis (Former Dell guy of "Dude, you're getting a Dell!" fame) and Michael Lowry ("All My Children") are featured in a cast that will play two saints, a martyr and the Devil in a play set in a pub. For a full list of shows and schedule, visit http://www.midtownfestival.org. Tickets to the shows at the WorkShop Theatre, 312 W. 36th St. (4th floor) and Where Eagles Dare, 347 W. 36th St., are available by calling (212) 868-4444.